BOLLYWOOD BUZZ December 2005
Ash is in the
thick of action
On her birthday this year (November 1), Aishwarya Rai was in the thick of action. No, not with beau Vivek Oberoi but in the company of Ben Kingsley and Colin Firth, her co-stars in the English film The Last Legion being shot in Slovakia. The actress who plays a Byzantine warrior Mira, will appear in a stunning sword fight sequence in the film set against the fall of the Roman Empire in 470 AD. What's even more creditable, Ash has done the scenes without using any double. Noted sword master Richard Ryan of Troy fame is all praises for her: "Aishwarya's handling of the sword is fantastic, especially for someone with no previous experience."
Meanwhile, back in Mumbai, Abhishek Bachchan has been zeroed in on as Umrao ki jaan! Yes, JP Dutta has signed on his blue-eyed boy Junior Bachchan to star opposite Aishwarya in his remake of Muzaffar Ali's classic Umrao Jaan. " Abhishek is perfect for the part of dreamer and poet," says Dutta.
Grover pitches for
Bond baddie
Gulshan ‘Badman' Grover is really busy these days --- no, not shooting for a movie as you might think, rather he's in London lobbying for the coveted role of the main baddie in the next James Bond movie Casino Royale. Gullu is pitching for the part of Le Chiffre in the film based on Ian Fleming's first James Bond book. Shooting is due to begin in Prague in February 2006. If the actor clinches the role, Grover will become the first Indian to act in a Bond film since tennis star Vijay Amritraj and Kabir Bedi starred in Octopussy in 1983. In fact, the news of Grover having bagged the role has already appeared in London dailies The Evening Standard and Daily Mirror. So there is some confusion on that front. One will have to just wait and watch!
After Saif, Akshay
dons the chef's cap
Bollywood heroes have stormed into what is traditionally considered to be a woman's domain --- yes, their favorite haunt these days seems to be the kitchen! What's brewing? First Madhavan in Ramji Londonwaley, then Saif Ali Khan in Salaam Namaste, and now it's the turn of Akshay Kumar to don the chef's cap. In Rajkumar Santoshi's Family, Akki plays Big B's elder son (yet again) and makes his living working in a restaurant as head cook. Family is expected to release in December.
While on Akshay, the guy has finally admitted that he was a casanova before marriage. "It was amusing to play the role of a casanova in Garam Masala because it felt like I was playing myself in flashback mode. I was like this five years back." Today, of course, adds Akki, he's a happily married man and "all that is behind me". Now, that's some honesty but wonder how wife Twinkle will react to her husband's candor!
It's the great
wedding season
Cousins Fardeen Khan and Zayed Khan are all knotted up --- no pre-release jitters, these guys are just suffering from pre-marriage jitters. Yes, while Feroze Khan's son Fardeen will be united in holy matrimony with childhood friend Natasha Madhavani, the pretty daughter of yesteryears' actress Mumtaz and London-based tycoon Mayur Madhavani on December 16, Sanjay Khan's son Zayed will tie the knot with long time girlfriend Mallaika Parekh on November 20, putting to rest all rumors of an affair with Esha Deol. That's not all. The Kapoor khandaan is also getting set to welcome the newest entrant to their illustrious family --- Rishi and Neetu Kapoor's daughter Ridhima will be marrying Delhi-based Bharat Sahini on January 25.
Incidentally, Karisma and hubby Sanjay Kapur have resolved their differences and got together again after a period of estrangement.
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